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Population in Ethiopia compared to Sierra Leone: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ethiopia was 135,472,051 in 2025 vs 8,819,794 people in Sierra Leone in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ethiopia's population is 140,722,974 people compared to 9,090,531 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 15.5 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Ethiopia is ranked the 10th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 1.8% of the world: 1.69% for Ethiopia vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Ethiopia has had an average growth rate of +2.69% per year vs +2.29% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ethiopia has increased from 80.7M people to 141M (74.4% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.09M (61.6% growth).

Ethiopia vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ethiopia Sierra Leone
2100 371,078,260 16,107,087
2099 369,338,252 16,121,940
2098 367,513,542 16,135,035
2097 365,567,496 16,149,905
2096 363,536,294 16,160,672
2095 361,596,042 16,169,304
2094 359,531,317 16,168,902
2093 357,460,480 16,173,609
2092 355,389,829 16,170,778
2091 353,218,632 16,163,901
2090 350,960,021 16,154,165
2089 348,751,618 16,142,526
2088 346,517,326 16,128,775
2087 344,162,324 16,112,585
2086 341,671,994 16,085,549
2085 339,167,930 16,064,212
2084 336,649,520 16,040,563
2083 334,083,247 16,006,923
2082 331,401,460 15,970,872
2081 328,715,487 15,930,880
2080 326,013,981 15,892,665
2079 323,282,865 15,850,728
2078 320,422,535 15,801,450
2077 317,492,915 15,750,408
2076 314,518,328 15,695,310
2075 311,487,723 15,635,345
2074 308,416,133 15,580,279
2073 305,383,505 15,512,655
2072 302,258,564 15,442,481
2071 299,119,280 15,370,747
2070 295,963,235 15,293,426
2069 292,756,723 15,212,664
2068 289,522,748 15,124,069
2067 286,191,689 15,028,190
2066 282,905,709 14,931,295
2065 279,576,283 14,833,794
2064 276,197,958 14,736,872
2063 272,782,685 14,638,180
2062 269,340,926 14,525,736
2061 265,803,351 14,420,068
2060 262,269,354 14,307,451
2059 258,692,767 14,194,972
2058 255,205,644 14,077,124
2057 251,656,356 13,957,197
2056 248,002,497 13,832,494
2055 244,426,069 13,702,508
2054 240,794,405 13,576,231
2053 237,155,110 13,440,929
2052 233,479,314 13,299,910
2051 229,733,593 13,152,910
2050 226,055,085 13,006,688
2049 222,351,471 12,863,637
2048 218,627,197 12,712,671
2047 214,883,954 12,566,944
2046 211,161,780 12,411,042
2045 207,461,987 12,254,651
2044 203,749,820 12,088,895
2043 200,035,613 11,928,393
2042 196,351,202 11,767,372
2041 192,689,672 11,599,942
2040 189,023,384 11,428,331
2039 185,365,776 11,259,845
2038 181,733,067 11,097,180
2037 178,124,993 10,928,754
2036 174,515,366 10,757,928
2035 170,904,339 10,582,918
2034 167,316,305 10,411,088
2033 163,763,376 10,238,503
2032 160,167,364 10,059,929
2031 156,590,018 9,881,109
2030 153,023,174 9,705,485
2029 149,461,578 9,529,493
2028 145,944,350 9,358,412
2027 142,419,893 9,177,288
2026 138,930,724 8,998,902
2025 135,472,051 8,819,794
2024 132,059,767 8,642,022
2023 128,691,692 8,460,512
2022 125,384,287 8,276,807
2021 122,138,588 8,094,602
2020 118,917,671 7,912,558
2019 115,737,383 7,731,991
2018 112,664,152 7,554,563
2017 109,666,481 7,379,299
2016 106,718,162 7,205,328
2015 103,867,135 7,037,655
2014 101,115,610 6,876,385
2013 98,438,751 6,714,051
2012 95,798,767 6,551,080
2011 93,149,970 6,387,251
2010 90,538,514 6,222,714
2009 88,007,636 6,055,646
2008 85,543,668 5,894,722
2007 83,103,217 5,749,352
2006 80,703,490 5,624,466
2005 78,367,470 5,501,712
2004 76,077,206 5,355,717
2003 73,832,663 5,177,687
2002 71,635,517 4,971,435
2001 69,487,762 4,692,716
2000 67,411,494 4,423,611
1999 65,374,561 4,318,043
1998 63,363,524 4,295,785
1997 61,404,539 4,253,716
1996 59,467,635 4,199,210
1995 57,537,335 4,179,179
1994 55,611,508 4,173,105
1993 53,708,891 4,157,130
1992 51,853,747 4,166,366
1991 49,717,198 4,246,267
1990 47,609,755 4,196,828
1989 45,879,690 4,034,037
1988 44,150,825 3,934,517
1987 42,460,039 3,829,718
1986 41,037,656 3,728,380
1985 39,842,136 3,638,438
1984 38,735,722 3,558,758
1983 37,740,817 3,481,646
1982 36,701,290 3,408,183
1981 35,304,012 3,338,940
1980 34,428,514 3,272,089
1979 34,238,652 3,207,499
1978 33,734,592 3,145,517
1977 33,167,272 3,085,354
1976 32,534,418 3,028,820
1975 31,723,252 2,974,657
1974 30,957,273 2,920,459
1973 30,166,785 2,866,955
1972 29,374,608 2,814,388
1971 28,600,106 2,763,222
1970 27,829,128 2,712,286
1969 27,072,571 2,661,365
1968 26,337,930 2,611,532
1967 25,620,276 2,562,384
1966 24,952,689 2,514,638
1965 24,310,612 2,468,666
1964 23,666,548 2,424,390
1963 23,051,637 2,382,258
1962 22,465,126 2,342,242
1961 21,906,102 2,304,227
1960 21,376,693 2,268,356

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ethiopia increased by 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ethiopia gained 34,004,812 people (a 31.9% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,885,203 people (a 26.2% growth).

Ethiopia was ranked 16th most populous country in 2006 and is 10th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 105th in 2006 and ranked 100th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Ethiopia's population will grow by 60.6% to 226,055,085 people with a rank change from 10th to 7th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.1% to 13,006,688 people and rank change from 100th to 91st.

Ethiopia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 371M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ethiopia Sierra Leone
2100 0.47% -0.09%
2099 0.5% -0.08%
2098 0.53% -0.09%
2097 0.56% -0.07%
2096 0.54% -0.05%
2095 0.57% 0.002%
2094 0.58% -0.03%
2093 0.58% 0.02%
2092 0.61% 0.04%
2091 0.64% 0.06%
2090 0.63% 0.07%
2089 0.64% 0.09%
2088 0.68% 0.1%
2087 0.73% 0.17%
2086 0.74% 0.13%
2085 0.75% 0.15%
2084 0.77% 0.21%
2083 0.81% 0.23%
2082 0.82% 0.25%
2081 0.83% 0.24%
2080 0.84% 0.26%
2079 0.89% 0.31%
2078 0.92% 0.32%
2077 0.95% 0.35%
2076 0.97% 0.38%
2075 1% 0.35%
2074 0.99% 0.44%
2073 1.03% 0.45%
2072 1.05% 0.47%
2071 1.07% 0.51%
2070 1.1% 0.53%
2069 1.12% 0.59%
2068 1.16% 0.64%
2067 1.16% 0.65%
2066 1.19% 0.66%
2065 1.22% 0.66%
2064 1.25% 0.67%
2063 1.28% 0.77%
2062 1.33% 0.73%
2061 1.35% 0.79%
2060 1.38% 0.79%
2059 1.37% 0.84%
2058 1.41% 0.86%
2057 1.47% 0.9%
2056 1.46% 0.95%
2055 1.51% 0.93%
2054 1.53% 1.01%
2053 1.57% 1.06%
2052 1.63% 1.12%
2051 1.63% 1.12%
2050 1.67% 1.11%
2049 1.7% 1.19%
2048 1.74% 1.16%
2047 1.76% 1.26%
2046 1.78% 1.28%
2045 1.82% 1.37%
2044 1.86% 1.35%
2043 1.88% 1.37%
2042 1.9% 1.44%
2041 1.94% 1.5%
2040 1.97% 1.5%
2039 2% 1.47%
2038 2.03% 1.54%
2037 2.07% 1.59%
2036 2.11% 1.65%
2035 2.14% 1.65%
2034 2.17% 1.69%
2033 2.25% 1.78%
2032 2.28% 1.81%
2031 2.33% 1.81%
2030 2.38% 1.85%
2029 2.41% 1.83%
2028 2.47% 1.97%
2027 2.51% 1.98%
2026 2.55% 2.03%
2025 2.58% 2.06%
2024 2.62% 2.15%
2023 2.64% 2.22%
2022 2.66% 2.25%
2021 2.71% 2.3%
2020 2.75% 2.34%
2019 2.73% 2.35%
2018 2.73% 2.38%
2017 2.76% 2.41%
2016 2.74% 2.38%
2015 2.72% 2.35%
2014 2.72% 2.42%
2013 2.76% 2.49%
2012 2.84% 2.56%
2011 2.88% 2.64%
2010 2.88% 2.76%
2009 2.88% 2.73%
2008 2.94% 2.53%
2007 2.97% 2.22%
2006 2.98% 2.23%
2005 3.01% 2.73%
2004 3.04% 3.44%
2003 3.07% 4.15%
2002 3.09% 5.94%
2001 3.08% 6.08%
2000 3.12% 2.44%
1999 3.17% 0.52%
1998 3.19% 0.99%
1997 3.26% 1.3%
1996 3.35% 0.48%
1995 3.46% 0.15%
1994 3.54% 0.38%
1993 3.58% -0.22%
1992 4.3% -1.88%
1991 4.43% 1.18%
1990 3.77% 4.04%
1989 3.92% 2.53%
1988 3.98% 2.74%
1987 3.47% 2.72%
1986 3% 2.47%
1985 2.86% 2.24%
1984 2.64% 2.21%
1983 2.83% 2.16%
1982 3.96% 2.07%
1981 2.54% 2.04%
1980 0.55% 2.01%
1979 1.49% 1.97%
1978 1.71% 1.95%
1977 1.95% 1.87%
1976 2.56% 1.82%
1975 2.47% 1.86%
1974 2.62% 1.87%
1973 2.7% 1.87%
1972 2.71% 1.85%
1971 2.77% 1.88%
1970 2.79% 1.91%
1969 2.79% 1.91%
1968 2.8% 1.92%
1967 2.68% 1.9%
1966 2.64% 1.86%
1965 2.72% 1.83%
1964 2.67% 1.77%
1963 2.61% 1.71%
1962 2.55% 1.65%
1961 2.48% 1.58%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ethiopia grew by 2.58%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.06%.

Live population counters

Ethiopia Sierra Leone
Current population
140722974
9090531
Population rank 10/197 100/197
Percent of world population 1.69% 0.11%
One net population change
9.27 seconds
2.96 minutes
One birth every
7.59 seconds
2.02 minutes
One death every
40.6 seconds
7.41 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,349 +487
Annual growth/decline +3,412,284 +177,772
Annual growth/decline rate +2.58% +2.06%
Population growth rate rank 24/197 47/197
One migration net change every
21.9 minutes
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change +24,054 -11,309
Net migration rank 31/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 1,168,455 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 53/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 157/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ethiopia Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 24,054 - -11,309
2024 3,379,409 30,069 189,234 -11,000
2023 3,338,649 -11,996 188,788 -4,000
2022 3,300,114 -11,996 186,625 -4,000
2021 3,204,673 -1,377 183,326 -1,544
2020 3,199,718 38,866 181,015 1,292
2019 3,132,780 -10,807 181,068 -2,238
2018 3,015,231 9,302 178,772 -2,741
2017 2,899,143 71,766 173,259 1,234
2016 2,809,889 115,823 168,784 4,657
2015 2,713,529 62,785 162,275 -356
2014 2,623,647 103,122 160,137 485
2013 2,546,020 80,955 161,265 2,773
2012 2,533,398 119,517 160,915 988
2011 2,527,811 116,793 158,858 6,895
2010 2,498,048 80,213 155,338 7,983
2009 2,467,118 16,315 152,669 18,145
2008 2,465,283 -20,780 149,855 1,182
2007 2,436,753 -381 145,740 -6,042
2006 2,393,585 -30,512 144,127 -34,052
2005 2,353,375 -44,421 137,234 -1,805
2004 2,296,999 -25,430 132,661 23,897
2003 2,231,223 -13,744 130,312 69,185
2002 2,189,683 -12,925 126,429 86,578
2001 2,137,791 -19,063 116,647 227,791
2000 2,083,622 -49,891 110,754 83,013
1999 2,010,987 29,142 102,295 -84,926
1998 1,984,989 -3,011 103,906 -76,766
1997 1,945,112 -9,119 105,433 -48,437
1996 1,896,364 41,456 104,140 -52,110
1995 1,831,068 91,727 100,885 -112,857
1994 1,788,133 140,715 101,486 -77,371
1993 1,734,851 141,545 103,317 -95,476
1992 1,673,839 160,106 103,251 -129,565
1991 1,579,416 859,737 105,477 -238,965
1990 1,479,663 296,014 100,778 131,587
1989 1,441,769 242,614 98,298 -5,079
1988 1,393,356 379,966 96,344 9,470
1987 1,356,853 251,387 94,235 9,558
1986 1,050,277 186,227 90,902 7,992
1985 997,050 157,476 88,869 -7,873
1984 920,670 137,632 87,072 -8,708
1983 863,472 68,022 84,628 -8,783
1982 1,080,853 66,702 82,457 -11,379
1981 1,018,838 628,135 80,111 -12,699
1980 1,007,516 -903,529 77,932 -11,641
1979 987,203 -711,455 75,992 -13,095
1978 943,388 -210,991 74,130 -13,073
1977 929,381 -527,133 71,663 -12,399
1976 899,577 -36,125 69,506 -15,686
1975 801,425 -42,540 67,560 -13,058
1974 777,306 -4,232 65,357 -11,473
1973 807,535 347 62,443 -9,322
1972 779,808 -3,375 60,279 -8,267
1971 787,047 -14,510 58,484 -8,162
1970 760,821 8,589 56,513 -4,957
1969 736,428 7,258 54,768 -4,485
1968 715,602 9,992 53,126 -3,743
1967 695,283 14,437 51,734 -2,819
1966 616,281 9,160 49,486 -2,911
1965 642,359 16,348 47,223 -1,851
1964 618,667 10,749 45,487 -2,308
1963 590,998 9,418 43,569 -2,480
1962 563,650 8,960 41,603 -2,658
1961 538,518 6,938 40,022 -2,947
1960 511,694 1,696 38,192 -3,528

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/sierra-leone | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 99.1% of the population change in Ethiopia is from natural causes (a gain of 30,993,135 people) and 0.93% is from migration (a gain of 292,435 people). In Sierra Leone 99% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,793,146 people) and 1.03% is from migration (a loss of 18,696 people).

As of 2024, 1,168,455 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Ethiopia, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K
Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/sierra-leone | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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